Vanity case



May 19, 1931. J. 1.. MCATREE 1,806,303

VANITY CASE Filed March 17. 1928 avwemtoz fiTATES PATENT @FFEQE JOHN L. IiIGATi-REE, OF BROOKLYN, NEW YORK, ASSIGNOR TO SCOVILL MANUFACTUR- ING COD'IPANY, OF WATEBBURY, CONI-IEUTICUT, A CORPORATION OF CONNECTICUT VANITY CASE Application filed March 17, 192-8. Serial No. 262,533.

- This invention relates to certain improve ments in small boxes or cases for holding cosmetics and commonly known as vanity cases.

These cases are usually carried in a hand- ,5 bag, pocketbook, or a pocket of the users apparel, and consequently should be as small and compact as practical. In addition, these cases should be of attractive appearance without projecting parts which would mar the symmetry or contour of the boxes.

These boxes are usually made in two forms, known as single and double cases, that is, a case for holding a single compact or a case for holding two compacts, and the cases for either form are usually provided with a mirror.

A special object of the present invention is to produce a box of this kind of either the single or the double type in which catch means are provided for securing the two parts of the box together, these catch means being so arranged as to be entirely invisible when the box is closed.

A further object of the invention is to provide a. construction by which the catch may be readily manipulated to secure and release the parts of the box.

A further object of the invention is to provide a construction in which the cover and the bodyrrmembers of the box are pivotally associated on a hinge which, like the catch, is so formed and arranged as to be entirely con-, cealed when the box is closed.

A further object of the invention is to provide certain improvements and refinements hereunto appended In these drawings,

Figure l is a top view of a single compact case embodying the invention, the cover being shown as open;

Figure 2 is a top view of part of the construction shown in Figure 1 showing the catch means in one position;

Figure 3 is a view similar to Figure 2 showing the. catch means in another position;

Figure 4 is a perspective view of part of the construction employed for pivotally associating the parts of the box;

Figure 5 is a detail section taken on the line 55 of Figure 1;

Figure 6 is a top view of a double or two compact box shown closed;

Figure 7 is a view of the same box shown open, and

Figure 8 is a detail view, partly in section, of the box shown in Figure 7.

Referring now to these drawings and first to Figures 1 to 5, the box there illustrated is a box capacitated to hold a single compact. This box includes a body 1 and a cover 2, these parts being pivotally associated on a hinge 3 hereinafter more fully referred to. The box may be made of any suitable material, such as light metal, and preferably is circular and comparatively shallow, the cover and body meeting in a thin edge so as to provide a small thin box of attractive appearance. As shown, the body 1 is provided with side walls 4 which terminate in an inwardly extending flange 5. The cover is likewise formed with a top 6 having side walls 7 which also terminate in an inwardly ex tending flange 8.

In accordance with the invention, catch means for securing and releasing the body and the cover of the box are provided, and these means and the hinge will preferably be so arranged that they are entirely invisible when the box is closed. Referring first to the catch devices, these mayiassume various forms, while in the preferred construction the catch means will be of such character that they may be operated from securing to release position by a relative rotary movement of the parts. In the particular construction illustrated, one of the members of the box carries catch devices which are arranged to engage with cooperating members on the other part of the box, these parts being arranged so as to be concealed when the box is closed, and the cover and the body of the box are united so that they may have a relative rotary'movement to secure and rel-ease the catch. While the specific construction for "erably are. arranged oit. center, that is, the

pins are not, as illustrated,diametrically opposite-each other. f i

' The inturned flange 80f thecover 2 is provided with two recesses 14 which are similarly arrangedas are the pins13,'or preferably 0ft center. The pins are adapted to enter theserecesses as shown in Figure 2, where upon, by a slight rotary mo'vement ofthe cover v:and the body relativelyito each other, I the pins may pass under the flange ,8 of the top, as shown in Figure 8, and thus securely hold the body andcover together. Of course,

on a reverse movement of the parts the pins are aligned with the recesses and the cover and body may then be separated. While the projections have been shown in the form of pins, it will be understoodthatanysuitable form'of projections other than pins may be ring member 9, but thepins are'preiterably employed as they afford a good closehold on the parts; r

hinging the body and the cover together,

and means are provided for permitting a relative rotary'movement of the body and the cover. Y While 'thesemean's, of course, may be somewhat varied, there-is provided a hinge construction which is secured to the body and cover so that one of the parts may have a rotary movementrelatively to-this hinge and thus relatively to the other part of the box.

The hinge construction will also be suchthat it willbe'entirely concealed when the box is closed Thespecific construction by which these functions are effected may beva'ried.

In" the particular construction illustrated thesehinge means and connections will in- ""clude a bezel-or flat annulus 15, of light metal, which is adapted to be secured in one ofthe members of the box, as for instance the cover. in boxes embodying thepreterred ,form of invention, the cover will carry a mirror, indicated at 16, andthis annulus or bezel may be utilized for holding the mirror 'inposition in the box, as shown in Figure 1. Means are also provided for holding this bezel in place in such a manner that it may have. a rotary movement in the cover, or

forms a seat for a pintle by which the two 7 parts of the box are pivotally associated, and

the hinge knuckle is so formed that'it will lie entirely .within the walls of the body and cover members of the box when the'box is closed, so as to be completely invisible when the parts are in that position. As shown, this hinge knuckle is formed by an ear 18 preferably formed from the metal of the bezel, which ear, isjoffseh asfshown at19, and then turned on itsel'flas indicated at 20, to form a seat for, the pintle. Cooperating with this hinge knuckle is a pintle which is shownin the form oi" a spring wire 21 which is arrangcdto'lie under the flange 5 of the body. as shown'in Figure 5, this wire also assisting to some extent in holding the ring 9 in position in the body. r r r It will be seen with the construction described that when the box is closed, both the hinge and the catch means are invisible, the

p hinge member lyin entirely within the walls "employed, such as nibs punched out l'rom the of th body and the cover.v Thus an attractive box is-produced andone inwhl'ch the contour is unbroken by hinge straps or prov fleeting catch members. To permit the'hinge As before stated, means are provided for to thuslie within the caseiwhenclosed, the ring 9.may be cutaway, as indicated at'9 in dotted lines in Figure 1, at a point adjacent the hinge.

In the best constructions a stop is provided for stopping the rotation ofthe parts, this I stop being so arranged that when the box is operated to release the body and cover the pins will stop in correct "registrywith' the recesses. VVhilethis stop may assume various .forms, .as shown, there is provided a pair of nibs'22, 23 on-each side of the hinge knuckle with which the ear 18comes in contact when they parts are rotated and acts to stop the. parts in the desired position.

. The body is designed toreceive a compact, indicated at=23", this compact being provided with the usual base 24 which engages the lower end of the spring wall 10 of the ring 9, before referred to, and is shown in Figure 5. This ring is slightly smaller in diameter than the compact which-it is to receive, so that the spring of this'wall acts to hold the compact in the box. If desired, a notch or recess 24 may beiprovided in therim of the.

member 9, through which a suitable tool, as a pin, may be'inserted to free the compact from the rim. While this method of holding the compact in the box is preferred, it will be understood that the compact may be held in any other desired manner.

The improved vanity box so far described is capacitated to hold a single compact. The invention includes the provision of a box known as a double box which will hold two compact-s and while as to its main features the invention is the same, certain modifica tions are desirable where a double box is used, and such modifications have been shown and will be described with reference to Figures 6 to 8. The box here shown includes a body 30 and a cover 31, and in the preferred construction an interior partition 32 which may be in the form of a metal disc which is highly polished on each side to provide a double faced mirror.

As in the construction previously described, the three parts of this modified form of box will be pivotally associated together and catch means will be provided for holding them in closed position, both the hinge construction and the catch means being such as to be entirely concealed when the box is closed. Furthermore. the catch means will be operated from securing to release position by a relative rotary movement of the body and the cover. In the particular construction illustrated the body 30 of the box is inset to form a shoulder 33 and a rim 34. This rim is provided with projections 35 in the form of nibs punched out from the rim, these nibs being preferably arranged off center from each other, as shown in Figure 7. The other member of the box, as the cover 31, is formed with an inturned flange 36 provided with recesses 37 which are arranged off center with respect to each other, similarly to the nibs 35. The nibs are adapted to enter these recesses and on a relative rotary movement of the parts are positioned under the flange 36 to secure the members together; The parts are arranged, as in the single box before described, so as to be capable of this relative rotary movement, and are hinged together so that the hinges are concealed when the box is closed.

In the preferred construction the parts are hinged to the partition member 32, before referred to, the body 30 being hinged to the under face of the partititon, and the cover 31 to the upper face of the partititon, the hinges being arranged so that the hinges and the partition members will lie entirely in the box when the box is closed. WVhile the particular form and arrangement of the hinges and the means for permitting relative rotation of the cover and body members may be somewhat varied, in the particular construction shown the body 30 is provided with a pintle wire 38 which has a sliding movement under the shoulder 33. This pintle wire is formed with an offset 39 around which is bent an offset knuckle 40 formed by bending up and then over a part of the material of the partition member 32. It will thus be seen that the partition member and the pintle may have a sliding movement in the body member. To limit this movement and insure the nibs and the recesses in the body and the cover being in the correct position, a stop is provided, which may be in the form of a pin 41 arranged to project between the legs of the offset 39, as shown in Figure 8, this pin acting to stop the movement of the parts in the desired position. The cover is secured to the base of the mirror of the partition member 32 on the side opposite the body, and this may be effected in various ways. In the construction illustrated there is provided a bezel member, shown in dotted lines in Figure 8 marked 42, which is provided with a pair of upstanding cars 43 which engage under the flange 36, before referred to, and hold the parts in place. The bezel 42 is formed with a pintle 44 formed by bending up the metal of the bezel which cooperates with a knuckle 4-5 formed by turning up and then over a part of the metal of the partition, the parts being secured by a pintle pin 46, indicated in dotted lines in Figure 8.

With this construction it will be observed that the partition member and the two hinges lie entirely within the walls of the cover and body members when the box is closed and are entirely concealed when the parts are in that position. Furthermore, the catch devices are also entirely concealed and can be operated by a very small relative turning movement of the parts to secure the parts together or to release them.

lVith the box described it will be observed that a very simple and compact case has been provided, one of attractive appearance and one in which the parts may be secured together and released in a very convenient manner.

While the box has been shown and described in its preferred forms, it will be understood that various changes may be made in the specific construction and arrangement of the details of the box and the invention is not to be limited to the exact form and construction of the parts disclosed.

What I claim is 2 1. In a vanity box, the combination of a body and a cover pivotally associated by a hinge, an inturned peripheral flange on one of the members, a recess in the flange, an inturned peripheral flange on the other memher, the faces of said flanges engaging each other when the box is closed, a projection on the other member arranged to enter the recess in one position of the parts, and to be concealed beneath the first named flange in another position of the parts, to lock the parts together, the locking movement being effected-bye relative rotation of thebody. andcover.. r

2. In e-vanity case, the combination of a body, a coverpivotally, and rotativelyassociated therewith and catch means located Within the Walls of the body and cover of the box and entirely concealed when the box is closed v 1 3. In a vanity case, the combination of it body and a cover, an annular member in the body and coveiyhinge means connecting the members and means for securing the annular members in position to permit a relative rotary movement of the body'andcoverL o.

4. In a vanity case, the combination of a body ande cover, one of these parts having an inturned flange, ai-ingengeged under the flangeto haven/relative rotary movement With respect to such part, a hinge on the ring uniting'thes'e parts, endfcatch means op-' Grated by the'rotery. movementofthe parts.

5. In 3; vanity case, the combination of a 7 body and a cover, an annulus in one of these members, Ln-annulus inthe other of these members, and'ahinge havmg an ofi'set portron umting these'parts' and entirely con- 7 cealed when the boxis closed.

Ina Vanity case, the combination of a body and a cover, annnnulus of resilient material secured 1n one ofthese members and. having a depending Wall having a smooth interior surface and a free lower edge, and

a compact in the annulus of a slightly'lnrger diameter than the engaging Wall and held lIlPOSltlOll solely by'the resiliency of the ring. "7. In a vanity case, the combination or a body and a cover, an ann'ulusof resilient material secured in one of these parts and havmy hand.

ing an inner depending Wall heiving a smooth interior surface, an outer Wall having frictlonall engagement With the part in which it is'-secured,-and a compact held in the 2111- nulus solely by the resiliency of the inner WalL In testimony whereof, I have hereunto set JOHN L. MoATREE; 1 

